The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19
Stories About Old Colorow.

|
Colorow the leader of the hostile Indians in
| the present disturbances, is what frontiersmen
call "a bad Ir6ian.r He has always hated the
| whites enormously, and it is only fear of their
overwhelming numbers that has kept him from
| being always on the war-path. AS it is, he has
| for years past been annoying the settlers in
| every way he can plan, destroying the grass so
| there can be no pasturage for cattle anywhere
| near the reservation, driving off mining pros
| pectors whenever In his wanderings with his
| band be came across them, no matter how far
| off the Indian land they may be, and setting fire
in every direction to the timber. Years ago he
was the chief of the White river Utes but was
deposed from that position for an exhibition of
cowardice. The story of his deposition runs
that during the term of Governor McCook in
Colorado, Colorow and band Of Utes came to
Denver. aud camped the outskirts of the
city. One day Colorow sent word that he wanted
a new tent. McCook dispatched an agent to see
III what condition Colorow's tent was, and the
report was that he did not need new tent, and
McCook accordingly refused him. In the after
noon. while the Governor was in his office. Col
GROW came in half drunk, with revolver In his
hand, and came over where McCook was writing,
and sat down. The Governor took in the situa-
tion at q glance, but did not look up
'McCook lar!" said Colorow.
The Governor went writing
''McCook - liar" repeated the chief.
Still McCOOk continued with his work,
"McCook -- liar!" said Colorow, reach
inga climax
By this time Colorow had concluded that there
was fight in the Governor, and allowed the
hand containing the revolver to drop to his side.
The move was fatal one In instant Me-
Cook seized his wrist. knocked the weapon
away from him, and. catching the astonished In
dian by the neck, kicked him down stairs and
out into the street. where there were mum Der
OF Utes standing about. With great tact Nc
nnE nInfn A m fhn cfratn uN1 I'd
form of Colorow, and, turning to tho Utes, said:
mo man to lead braves Colorow an old wom-
Get man for chief" Then turning on
his heel he walked upstairs. The next day the
mortified Utes deposed Colorow.
This humiliation. however. did not cure Color
ow of his propensity for mischief. and he took
part in the disturbauc in 1879 which led to the
White river massacre. He attended, in COM
pany with Ouray, the conferences with the
commissioners sent out from Washington to
investigate the massacre and bring the perpe-
traitors to justice. At one of these conferences
General Hatch made final demand for the sur
render of the guilty Indians. No moved
spoke for few moments when Colorow lighted
q big pipe-''the pipe of peace" Each Indian
present drew his knife and laid it on his knees,
the question of peace or war being the one
pending. Colorow then passed the pipe to the
next man without smoking. and il went around
p the circle. When the circle was finished he
jumped to his feet, Strengthened up to his full
height, pulled his belt around until the knife
sheath was In front, and snatching his
knife out, threw it quivering and ringing
upon the Qpor. instantly every Indian present
laid his hand upon his knife or pstol-the
whites following their example. The two par
ties stood fronting and defying each other for
some moments, each waiting for the other
make a forward move. There were but six
white men in the ROOM while the Indians num-
bered twenty-five, though there fifteen sol
diers in an adjoining room. Finally Ouray
spoke: I'VE cannot deliver up those Indians un-
less they are tried in Washin eton; they must
not be tried in Colorado. The Colorado people
are all our enemies. and to give them up to be
tried In this State would be surrender them
to a mob who would hang them. We will bring
those twelve men here for you TO see, and then
those whom you decide guilty shall be taken to
Washington and the President shall! determine
their guilt or innocence Douglas will have TO
and you shaN decide who else. Upon this con-
dition and no other will we surrender the twelve
men,"
The chief spoke with great arrogance and
boldness
Ouray added that it would require about
week to bring the men in. General Hatch told
him he accepted the proposition far as bring
ing the men IN was concerned. but as for taking
them to Washington, he would have first tele-
graph Secretary SchurZ to get permission to do
so before he could agree to take the Indians
East. Colorow and Jack were :aamediately dis
patched to bring in the twevs Indians named,
including Douglass and Persune. General
Hatch was finally authorized by the Washing
ton authorities to guarantee that the prisoners,
when surrendered. should have fair trial by
military commission outside of Colorado and
New Mexico. The casting of Colorow's knife
upon the floor was sign that he in favor of
war but s the other chiefs retained their knives.
and thereby signihed that they were in favcr